Tyneside Golf Club’s James Wilson demonstrated his ability to shoot low scores at national and regional level with a string of strong performances.
James, 19, finished third in the Boyd Quaich – one of the most prestigious events of the student golf calendar hosted by the University of St Andrews over the Old and New courses at St Andrews. James shot a bogey-free 69 over the Old Course on day one to lead the elite field before shooting rounds of 72 and 71 on the New Course in rounds two and three. In the final round, he shot 70 on the Old Course to finish the tournament on four under-par, three shots behind winner Charles Fitzsimmons from Western University.
He went on to equal the course record at Hankley Common with a six under-par 65 while qualifying for the matchplay stages of the English Men’s Amateur Championship.
Although James was knocked out in round two, it gave him the chance to return to Durham for the County Clubs Championship at Heworth Golf Club, where he continued his low scoring and won the best individual prize with a 12 under-par total of 130 after two rounds of 65.
James’ score helped Tyneside Golf Club finish second with host club Heworth four shots clear at the top of the leaderboard. Heworth will go on to represent Durham at Romford Golf Club in Essex in the England Golf Champion Club event, September 21-22.
Heworth’s Will Marshall posted two rounds of 74 as teammate Aaron Scott shot 66 and 69, and Jason McGuire shot rounds of 72 and 69.
